Summary

• Hugo's fate in Fallout 76's Skyline Valley expansion is a central choice that affects the plot's outcome.
• The player's choice to side with or against Hugo determines who becomes Vault 63's overseer, and how the expansion ends.
• Players may also choose to capture or kill Hugo.

Hugo is one of the major characters in Skyline Valley is the most expansive update to Fallout 76 yet.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Fallout 76's Skyline Valley expansion.]

Hugo Stolz is one of the first NPCs players meet during Skyline Valley. A friendly ghoul, he's the founder and CEO of the successful pre-War business Stolz Enterprises, and the Overseer of Vault 63. He welcomes the player character into the Vault, asg them general housekeeping tasks before revealing his true intentions. Although Hugo's motivations are dubious and his plan uncertain, it's possible to read between the lines and understand his true character before making a final decision.

What Happens If You Side With Hugo In Fallout 76: Skyline Valley?

Working With Hugo & Activating The Weather Machine

Once the player character gains his trust, Hugo explains the truth about Vault 63: the Vault was left unfinished when the bombs dropped, so everyone inside was exposed to staggering levels of radiation. Many died, but the survivors underwent ghoulification, making them immune to radiation damage while forever altering their appearance. However, since they were continuously exposed to fallout radiation, many of the ghouls within turned feral. Hugo's wife, Cassidy, was one of the first to begin turning.

By happenstance, Hugo discovered that Vault 63's weather machine could alleviate the effects of feralization. He took Cassidy there, and switched it on. The resulting burst of energy slowed Cassidy's progression, but also turned many of the Vault dwellers into a unique type of feral ghouls, known as the Lost. The Lost lack all sensory perception, and are inherently hostile to anything that stands in their way.

The survivors locked the Lost in unused chambers of the Vault, and tried to forget the accident. But Cassidy's condition worsened, and Hugo was forced to activate the machine a second time. It created an enormous, permanent thunderstorm over Skyline Valley, and earthquakes that destroyed the tunnels where the Lost were hidden away, allowing them to escape into the Valley.

The resulting burst also rendered the weather machine unusable. During the quest "Gathering Clouds," the player character discovers that the machine won't cure the Lost - it'll just give Hugo the power to command them. Hugo only wanted to repair the machine so he could activate it again, gaining full control over his Lost army.

Players may find a note entitled, "Hugo must pay" at the Old Crimora Mines, which suggests that Hugo's position of power has come at the cost of many innocent lives.

During "The Eye of the Storm," Hugo gains access to a working weather machine once again, and is poised to activate it, turning all the Vault 63 survivors into Lost and giving him full control over them. If the player sides with Hugo, he'll go ahead with this plan, turning everyone inside into Lost ghouls in his personal army. He'll eventually capture his detractors, Audrey, Oberlin, and Hilda, and conscript them into his Lost army as well.

This could be considered the DLC's bad ending: while it doesn't have any major impact on what comes after, it results in the half-death of many of Skyline Valley's major characters, and rewards a tyrannical Overseer with his own unquestioning army.

What Happens If Players Side Against Hugo In Fallout 76: Skyline Valley?

Killing Or Imprisoning Hugo

Once it's revealed that Hugo has fled to the weather machine, two of his former collaborators present the player with alternative options. Oberlin suggests they capture him alive, while his daughter Audrey advises killing him, saying he's too manipulative to be spared.

If the player decides to capture Hugo, then Oberlin will take his place as Overseer of Vault 63. Hugo will be allowed to remain alive inside the Vault's prison, but he'll be permitted to continue his research into the Lost and the weather machine, albeit in a significantly reduced capacity.

If the player decides to kill Hugo, Audrey will take over for him instead. Research into the Lost will slow, but the survivors of Vault 63 will be permitted to continue living in peace, and will retain their freedom. Either of these options could be called a good ending to Skyline Valley, so the final choice is up to the player.

Hugo can regenerate his HP during the battle, so it's best to be prepared for a long fight. Bring plenty of Stimpaks and ammo.

Players Should Side Against Hugo In Fallout 76: Skyline Valley

Imprisoning Hugo Is The Best Choice

Ultimately, it's best to side against Hugo in Fallout 76. It's up to the player whether they choose to capture or kill him; there's little difference, except in Audrey and Oberlin's dialogue after the mission. Oberlin is much more level-headed, and promises to continue Hugo's research. This could be beneficial to the people of Vault 63, perhaps even leading to an eventual cure for the Lost. But it also means leaving Hugo alive, and his control over the Lost could pose a serious threat in the future. Audrey has a bit more of an emotional stake in Hugo's fate, but she does have a point: leaving him alive, even under Oberlin's control, could lead to disaster.

But in its current form, Fallout 76 doesn't reveal the ultimate fate of Vault 63 if the player sides against Hugo. After some debriefing, they basically remain in stasis for the foreseeable future. Additional Fallout 76 updates could potentially expand on this story, finally revealing whether Hugo is able to rise to power again if he's allowed to remain alive. But for now, there's no way of knowing. Killing him may be the safest choice, but results in a slightly more pessimistic outcome for Vault 63.

No matter what the player chooses, though, the rewards for completing Skyline Valley's last quest are exactly the same. Besides a measure of XP, some caps, a handful of healing items, and a few explosives, players will also receive the V63 Zweihaender. This is a plasma cutter weapon that deals more damage to enemies with low HP, increases the damage of Power Attacks, and boosts the player's defense while charging up a swing. It's excellent for a strong Fallout 76 melee build, but not much use for anyone else.

But while Hugo is undeniably evil, the right choice is always whatever makes the most sense to the player. Some player characters may find his quest for power relatable, and choose to free him instead. With the rewards identical no matter what they choose, it's up to how the player wants to see Fallout 76's most recent expansion end.